Kool Beanz Cafe remains a Tallahassee institution. I came to visit while in town and I'm so glad to have experienced their out of the box menu, with some staples that remain on it. Staff was kind and friendly. Patient with any questions. Started with the black bean cakes. They were a great portion and so delicious. Then shared a salad and a fish entree over jambalaya rice. Both were so delicious and fresh. The fish was so tender and juicy. The dressing on the salad was also delicious. Didn't have room for dessert but really enjoyed dinner here. Ambiance was nice and chill. Enjoyed their dog paintings on the wall. Can't wait to come back here in the future! read more

This was my creative cooking crush before I fell in love with Backwoods Crossing. We don't get here as often as we should because their lunch hours don't often coincide with ours. Of late we have had some success getting here during their lunch hours which has reminded me of just how good they are. The menu changes some pretty regularly so there are new ideas to try over time. There also are dishes that have stood the test of time that will always be present. The rainbow trout is one of those and you will never go wrong ordering that. Always delicious. Otherwise have at the several choices that may appeal to your taste. I doubt that you won't like it. The location is a converted mini market. I am remembering that the first restaurant conversion was a classic diner that was good for breakfast but Kool Beanz has been here for a long time and thriving. Some of the best seats in the house can actually be on a stool at the counter watching the chefs ply their trade. There's an additional large dining room at the end of the building and they have created a nice outdoor space as well. What may be hard to come by when they are busy is a parking space. Service has always been friendly and attentive. Prices are reasonable considering the creativity that is involved. You will pay more at dinner which is why we love to catch them at lunch. read more

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What is not to love? Local ingredients, varied menu and everything is exquisitely prepared. I always start with an order of their delicious onion rings. The lunch menu always knocks it out of the park! The redfish was a thing dreams are made of! Returned again today for the redfish and ordered the jerk spiced swordfish instead, with pineapple papaya salsa, Caribbean red beans and sweet potato rice! Of course, the onion rings were a necessity. The swordfish was so good and not dried out (a talent beyond my skills). read more

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Delicious Food, new menu daily, Great service, everyone so nice Fun place, nice vibe read more

My daughter is just moving back to school for her second year and we decided to go out to dinner someplace she had not been before. This one looked good so we tried it. To start, it is not very fancy, however, the ambience inside is fantastic. It's very lively and fun. You can watch the cooks if you sit in the bar area. That was a lot of fun. The food was exceptional. My daughter and I both had the glazed salmon. Everything from the polenta to the vegetables and of course the salmon were amazing. I felt like we were eating a 5 Star Gourmet Pl.... Which this kind of is in my opinion. They strive on fresh. locally sourced ingredients. There are so many options. Due to my beef and pork allergy I was a little concerned however, our waiter took such great care of us making sure that every ingredient was safe for me to eat and having it noted that everything was cooked in one pan. It put me at great ease. I cannot wait to cbring the rest of our family when we visit again. To note, they also have a very nice wine selection. read more

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No amount of stars would be enough to describe Kool Beanz. I've heard great things for years, and am seriously kicking myself for not trying them sooner! I had the best experience sitting at the counter, and received exceptional service from Ryan. Despite the dinner rush and busy kitchen, I received swift and thorough service. Ryan made me feel really valued as a customer, and made my experience celebrating a birthday away from home a really positive one. It was also really fun to see management, servers, and chefs all interacting with repeat customers nearby. You can tell how much customers are truly valued when dining at Kool Beanz. Per Ryan's recommendations, I ordered the bourbon-pear glazed salmon and peach-cardamom pavlova from tonight's menus. Both were phenomenal. My salmon was perfectly cooked medium, accompanied by a rich lemon herb risotto and caulilini - which I now know is the broccolini of cauliflower! The pavlova featured a bright peach sauce, decadent cardamom ganache, and peach ginger sorbet. I was afraid the ginger or cardamom would be overpowering, but flavors all worked together perfectly. Both dishes really blew me away. Kool Beanz delivered really top-notch service and dishes in an un-fussy environment, which I loved. I have no doubt this will be my first stop next time I'm in town! read more

Kool Beanz Cafe - Peach Cardamon Pavlova - New American Near Me - Tallahassee, Florida

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Kool Beanz is much more elevated and creative than its name might suggest. Food was awesome, some of the best we had all weekend. A changing menu that ensures everything is fresh and prices were very reasonable, almost a bargain for the food quality and portions. I had the rainbow trout and almost licked the plate clean. The deserts were top notch as well. Still thinking about the apple one. The interior is very 1990s artsy. Good beer and wine menu with plenty of local options. The only ding against the place was that service, while nice and informed, was very slow. Like ten plus minutes to get a water after being seated and a similar amount of time to get the check after we finished. If you aren't in a hurry though, this is the place to go in Tallahassee! read more

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I stopped in today. Had the lamb burger delicious place is very clean. I sat at the bar which you can talk to the cooks in the kitchen remind me of a restaurant in Pennsylvania. The Stone bar not the same atmosphere, but you're able to dine in the kitchen the entire staff friendly, but as the rating size the noise is not controllable. I had a hard time hearing people talking to me, but other than that, I had a blast. read more

Food was amazing and unique. I love that they change up their menu based off of what's seasonally available. It's not a fancy place as far as atmosphere goes but the food is presented and prepared like fine dining. Our server was knowledgeable about the menu and friendly. He provided great recommendations. While the steak was good and always on the menu but I would skip it next time. We loved the salmon and fish entree options. Definitely a great one of a kind spot to go in Tallahassee! read more

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I have never had a bad meal here. The service is ALWAYS fast and friendly. Usually quiet and relaxing inside.

Great food and ambience! Sit at bar and watch the amazing cooks if you go!! Great service. read more

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My friend and I stopped in for a last minute Friday dinner.Our server was friendly and attentive!! We sat in the patio area and the food was full of flavor.The menu changes so always something new to try! A great place to catch up with loved ones.I will definitely return! read more

Kool Beanz Cafe - Lamb skewers and couscous - New American Near Me - Tallahassee, Florida

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Cool place but you will smell like a diner at the end of the meal. I ordered the octopus and it was ok but a bit tough. Order xtra cucumber kimchi. I also ordered the redfish and the fish was good but its flavor was overpowered by the sauce and the crispy kale was oily. Over all ok but won't be coming back. read more

Visited Tallahassee to see family and the first place they wanted to bring me was Kool Beanz Café. (I sadly didn't take photos since this was our first stop after arriving at the airport and we were starving and catching up) Initially due to traffic, my step mom and dad began to think of other places to eat, but when comparing to other places in the area, my step mom and dad agreed that Kool Beanz would be the best! On their website it says "Eat, Drink and Talk Loud- you're among friends ". They want their customers to feel like the restaurant is home, in a way, which I love. I truly did feel that when we arrived. The waiters spoke to us as if they knew us. They were so hospitable and it was that Southern hospitality that I love when visiting Florida. Their menu changes daily for lunch, dinner and dessert. The best part about Kool Beanz is their ingredients. They are fresh and often have unique options on the menu - for instance, I had a lamb pasta that was amazing. Again, apologies for no photos but I was famished after my day of travel and the food was too good and gone quickly. Thank you, Kool Beanz! I will be back once I'm back in FL! read more

Absolutely amazing food and experience. The service was impeccable and the experience was amazing. Eat in the evening outdoors on the deck. I ordered a fish entree but they needed to substitute for catfish. I've never had catfish prepared like that before and since, I've tried to duplicate it. I wish I had taken photos of it. read more

We've been going to Kool Beanz for about five years now. Love their lunches, but two small grips. The size of the fish luncheon have been getting smaller and small smaller. Additionally, it seems like about two years ago. You must've changed your pastry chef because before that the desserts were fabulous now they're just so so and for the size of the desserts and the price of the desserts, they should be fabulous as they used to be For example today for dessert I ordered a black forest cake. What came out was not black for cake what came out? Was this small thin moose with a couple of cherries in it and whipped cream on the top for $15. The taste was so, so the price was high high. The size was small small Denise Andrews. read more

Interesting menu. Had Appetizer of Shrimp and Grits. Was a small portion of grits and heavy on sauce. Shrimp were cooked perfectly. Others had the flank steak, commented was good. Service is slow when busy. Prices are $15-25. Appetizers and main dishes $20-40. If you are a Foodies Member they offer 15% discount. Will go back. read more

First time here and the food was outstanding. The service was equally wonderful. Driving by I wouldn't have thought to stop here but the food was truly exceptional. If you're a foodie this place is worth the try. Then menu changes constantly so I wouldn't count on the photos of the menu on here. I can't remember if it's daily or weekly. read more

Great food, service and atmosphere. I love that the menu changes daily. Ate lunch here today about 1pm - the food delivery was a little slow and I overheard my server explaining that with the rain overnight they didn't fully anticipate the additional patio business. I still gave them 5 stars, since when my filet came out - it was incredible and it was obviously freshly plated etc. Loved the patio vibe too. Might go back for dinner tomorrow! read more

Ambiance is beautiful and the food was CHEF'S KISS. Service was great because we had a great server and the dessert was spectacular.

I've only been once or twice and it's a long wait for me, but I'm very impatient. I heard the food is really good. Some different dishes there we go by often on the way to somewhere and it's always full. I don't know how you afford to eat there every day Gotta have an expense account not cheap. It's good but it's not cheap at all so I don't know how everybody stops. Good for them. I'm happy they're doing Well read more

Another great meal at KB. We tried the octopus appetizer as 1 entree. It was excellent & tender with the chimichurri sauce & fingerling potatoes. Not really potato "salad". The wedge salad was huge and we spilt it. It was covered in the blue cheese dressing with just the right amount of chunks and great crispy bacon. The pork chop was excellent & had a touch of cinnamon behind the coffee. Service attentive and timely. Fun atmosphere and even better as the weather cools & outside more of interest read more

Probably one of the best, if not the best, meal I have had since moving to Tallahassee. Kool Beanz Cafe impressed me beyond belief. So I had had them bookmarked for ages and was told repeatedly that this would be my scene, my type of restaurant if you will, and yet I never went until a girlfriend wanted American food. Now I'm not sure what she meant by American food as there's typical burgers, as well as soul food and a bunch of fusion mixes, but I threw out many names. From those names was Kool Beanz, and hence, we wound up there. Their parking lot is small, but there is parking on the street, too. They happen to have both indoor and outdoor seating. I remember that November evening it was cold, so I opted to sit inside. While I waited for my girlfriend, I perused the menu that I had looked at earlier that day on Facebook. Apparently they upload their daily menu there as each day the menu changes. On the day I went, I chose to have a shrimp and linguini dish, although I heavily debated between this and a mojo chicken dish. As it turns out, great minds think alike as that's what my girlfriend ordered. Unfortunately for me, each dish was so yummy, we inhaled and didn't even think about each other's plates. And mind you, we wound up with leftovers! We really questioned getting dessert and decided against it. It truly didn't matter either way. We were so full of yummy food, food we got to enjoy the next day as it heated up well. I hear they have a brunch on weekends. That's likely going to be the next time I go. I loved this restaurant and I am frankly dying to return. read more

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Let's start with the highlight of the dining experience, the precious Sam. She was so delightful to peak with. Honestly, if my son were with us I would suggested he ask for her number just have a new friend. Sunshine...that's the word I would use to describe her. Our waitress Lyndsey was just that, she was attentive and efficient. The food was not as impressive as the hype. The ambiance lacked luster. The sign reads Kool Beanz Cafe and that's the vibe for sure. Paper napkins and blue plastic water cups. It was somewhat of a smorgasbord atmosphere. We enjoy eating at restaurants where when we leave we yearn to return. This experience was one and done. read more

Kool Beanz Cafe - Short rib dish - New American Near Me - Tallahassee, Florida

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Stopped in after not being here in years! It did not disappoint! I sat at the counter and was greeted by the most wonderful server. She was so friendly and helpful with my selections. I started with a glass of red wine ( Banshee) and ordered the grilled cheese & tomato bisque. Both were delicious! I also ordered the shepherd pie to go! Oh man, was that yummy! Did you see the dessert? Oh boy, parsnip cake? Is this for real? Like carrot cake, but better! I'll be back as soon as I can get back to Tally for work! Reasonably priced. Unpretentious place. Great quality food. Very creative! read more

Kool Beanz Cafe - Amazing blue cheese & tomato bisque soup & grilled cheese with bacon and onions! - New American Near Me - Tallahassee, Florida

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Amazing food. Different choices daily. The service is amazing and the food is outstanding. I have been on several different occasions and have not been disappointed. My last visit was for brunch. The shrimp and grits were soooo good. The chicken and waffles were very crunchy and the waffle was soft with just the right amount of crunch. The eggs Benedict was perfectly poached and the added greens were a nice touch. The desserts and some of the best I have had and I have been to Michelin stared restaurants. Their flavor and presentation is out of this world. A great spot and a must try. read more

Kool Beanz Cafe - Brunch - New American Near Me - Tallahassee, Florida

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Family dinner but honestly asked for a medium steak, not rare as can be. Besides the errors in their steak cooking (my father-in-laws was exactly cooked the same), the rest of the food was decent. read more

Kool Beanz Cafe - Peppered Flank Steak - New American Near Me - Tallahassee, Florida

Food is actually delicious. Fish is so fresh. Samantha is quite possibly the sweetest human iv ever met. Went above and beyond. Lindsey was our server and also was fabulous very knowledgeable and friendly overall had the best time of my entire life. read more

MY WIFE and I went to cool beans for lunch today and everything was OK. I wasn't impressed with the sliders. The Cuban sliders a lot of bread and not a lot of substance overall we had a great lunch. The dessert to be honest with you was a little bit bland. I had the frozen ice cream or sherbet or whatever it is cool beans is phenomenal for their quality and for their selection on a regular basis so don't hold it against them. We'll be back. We love this place and don't forget to have their salad. Best salad I've had in a long long time. read more

I had an amazing experiencing dining with the Kool Beanz Cafe. Our server Greta was super helpful and attentive . Will be returning soon! read more

Kool Beanz Cafe - New American Near Me - Tallahassee, Florida

Good food but very noisy environment in the main room, quieter in the outer room. Definitely worth a try.

Great place to have dinner if you don't want the usual fare. The menu changes often and it is full of things you would't expect. We had scallops, browned gnocchi, and the duck. The food was great and the service attentive. We had a dog and the upper deck was a great place to be with him. And the staff is most definitely dog friendly, the on duty manager checked in with us multiple times and with our pup each time. Overall a great experience, great staff and good food. read more

Trout was fantastic. Tyler is an excellent server. Crab cakes large and Brussel sprouts had Gorgonzola and cream. Lovely. read more

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Very attentive wait staff! They brought out bread right away which had the yummiest butter! It was very fresh and salty. We had crab cakes and fried green tomatoes to start. The crab cake could've used a little heat and the fried green tomatoes could've been cooked a little longer. I had the duck entire and it was very good. The cherry paired very well with the tender meat. It was a little tough on the recommended medium, but every fourth bite or so was a melt-in-your-mouth experience. We finished with the orange chocolate mouse cake that had a raspberry sauce and pistachios. It was the highlight of the meal! The restaurant itself is chilly so bring a sweater! Would come back read more

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I went to Kool Beanz for the first time tonight. It was really good and very tasty. Everything had its own unique flavor and stood out differently. This is a very busy place with its regular, so please call ahead and try to make reservations or get on the wait list. For 3 people, we had a 30-40 minute wait on a Wednesday night. So please plan accordingly. We have plans to go back and try more of their eye-catching food. It's also a bonus when all your staff was friendly, helpful, and polite. read more

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Took forever to get our food. Two dishes. We got there right as it opened. Heard good things so was excited Mine was not good. So basic. Visually terrible. Grits and a ton of sauce on one side with shrimp in a heavy inedible hard batter. I should have sent it back. The staff was great though! read more

Kool Beanz Cafe - Grits with shrimp. - New American Near Me - Tallahassee, Florida

Food was wonderful, ambiance was nice. Our waitress was knowledgeable of the food ( we had questions ), very pleasant and quite attentive. Highly recommend, especially if you're adventurous and looking for something different to eat. read more

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food is excellent. owner is personable. like they say talk loud and enjoy!! wish theybwoukd brung brunch back.

Eclectic menu with new seasonal features. Food is always great and a fun dining experience. I wish they took reservations, because there can be a long wait on weekend. read more

When I stopped by Kool Beanz this past Monday, the cafe had been recommended to me by a local. He and I met friends for lunch and I ordered the salmon BLT. This sandwich included a fried green tomato, smoky bacon, arugula lettuce, salmon, and lemon aioli mayo. When I tell you that this was an excellent sandwich, I am not exaggerating. The bacon was flavorful, the salmon was fresh, the tomato and lettuce added some crunch and the aioli tasted so good. The creamy lemon flavor with the salmon was inspired. My side of sweet potato fries just added to the deliciousness of the meals. Our server was attentive and made sure my leftover sandwich was packaged for a future meal. When I return to Tallahassee, I'll make a point to come back to Kool Beanz! read more

Kool Beanz Cafe - Salmon BLT with lemon aioli with sweet potato fries! DELICIOUS! - New American Near Me - Tallahassee, Florida